Island



Q- A. L. NESWMAN FLEXIBLE AND EXPANSIBLE' BRACELET AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 27, 1924 Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

ALMYB. L. NEWMAN, OF WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO A. L. NEWMAN COMPANY, OF CRANSTON, BHOTDE ISLAND, A CORPORA- TION OF RHODE ISLAND.

FLEXIBLE AND EXPANSIBLE BRACELET AND THE LIKE.

Application filed September 27, 1924. Serial No. 740,348.

ments in the construction of the same.

One object of the invention is to provide an article of the type specified having closely associated, articulated links adapted to flex in relation to each other and to slide one on another to render the whole band or bracelet expansible to slip over the hand oi the I panded, and with certain of the links illus trated in section in a horizontal plane to C l1S- close the construction of the connecting wearer. I j

A particular object of the inventlon is to provide a band, bracelet or other article of this type in which the links may be readily and conveniently coupled and uncoupled without the use of tools, so that units may be added to or subtracted from the article to alter its length.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide a construction for the band, bracelet or other article in which the connected elements or links are neatly and smoothly joined to adapt the article to be flexed and expanded without dislocating its parts or disclosing unsightly joints or seams.

Further objects of my improvement are set forth in the following-specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the 1nvention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. Inthe drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved band or bracelet flexed 1n c1rcular shape and contracted with its links abutting;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the inner side oi the bracelet showing it exrneans;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the expanded bracelet showing some of the links in section in a medial'vertical plane;

Fig.4 is a perspective vlew. of one of the main links of the bracelet shown opposlte the connecting-link whichcouples thereto;

-Fig. 5 is a plan view of the sheet-metal blank from which the main link is formed; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of slidabl'e connecting-link.

improved band or the blank for the r ce et Wi e s outer tubular members or box-like links 2, and inner slldable connecting-links 3 which are normally maintained telescoped within the box-links under the tension of coilsprings 4.

The main links 2 are preferably constructed from sheet-metal. being folded or bent up from blanks 5 of the form shown in Fig. 5, which may be stamped or punched out in a drop-press. The blank 5 consists of a strip of relatively thin metal having a central portion 6 of rectangular shape with lateral extensions or wings 7 formed with their opposite edges slightly tapered for a purpose as later explained. The blank 5 is folded at points indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, the wings 7 being first bent downwardly at right-angles to the central portion6 to form the sides 8 of the box, as 1llustrat-ed most clearly in Fig. 4, and then folded inwardly again to form the bottom 9 of the box with the edges butted in a longi tudinal seam 10, see Fig. 2.

The ends of the wings 7 of the blank 5 are provided with small ears or tabs 11 projecting from their sides and adapted to be bent upwardly from the bottom of the box, as shown'in Figs. 3 and 4;, to provide lugs or abutments partly closing the openings at its opposite ends. The blank 5 is also formed with smaller ears or lugs 12 projecting from the marginal edge of the wings 7 and adapted to be folded inwardly from the sides 8 of the box to meet the outer edges of the tabs 11, see Fig. 4:. The ears or lugs 12 cooperate with the lugs 11 to provide means for clasping tllBllOOkGQl end of the inner link 3 to the main link .2 in the manner as hereinafter more fully explained.

The inner telescoping link 3 is constructed from a sheet-metal blank 15 of the form shown in Fig.6. The main portion 16 of the blank 15. is of rectangular outline with relatively narrow wings 17 extending from its sides,fand a similar wing 18 at one end. The side wings 17 are rounded on. at one end, and slightly beyond .the points. where they join the main portion 16 of the blank are two oppositely projecting ears or lugs 19. The blank 15 is slitted longitudinally on a medial line to provide a bifurcated structure, the cut or slit 20 extending from one end n'ea'rlyto the wing 18 at its opposite end.

Te the inner Slide-link a from the blank 15 the sidewings 17 and end-wing 18 are bent downwardly at points indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, so that they stand at right angles to the main portion 16 of the blank to form a shallow, inverted box clearly shown in Fig. 3, and at the right in Fig. 4. The end of the blank having the side-lugs 19 is also bent downwardly to form a sort of hook or catch 21 with the lugs 19 adapted to serve as latches when snapped i on the under side of the inner link 3 the helical wire spring 4 is placed in position l:;etween the downwardly bent end-wing 18 of the link 3 and the upstanding lugs 11 at the left-hand end of the link 2, viewed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3'. The spring 4 therefore normally tends to telescope the link 3 within the link 2, while adapting it to be partially withdrawn therefrom with its sides 17 sliding in the openings between the edges ottthe lugs 11 and sides 8 of the box-link 2, see Fig. 2. lit will be obvious, however, that the slide-link Scannot be entirely withdrawn from its enclosing link 2 after the parts have once been permanently assembled as described.

T he hooked end or latch on the link 3 provides for its connection with and disconnection from the next outer link 2 ot the bracelet with a claspin-g and unclasping action so that units may be added to or subtracted from the bracelet at will to alte'r'its length as required to adapt it to fit the wrist of the wearer. To assemble the links in a complete bracelet the units or pairsof outer and inner cooperating elements are joined together in the manner as now explained. The bifurcated latch-end 21 of the inner slide-link- 3 which projects from the end of its respective enclosing link 2 is first pinched together between the fingers, as shown in Fig. 4:, and one of its lugs or cars 19 is inserted through the opening 22 above the lugs 11 at the end of the; next adjacent link 2, the links. being canted at substantially right-angles; to. each otherfor this; purposev as: indicated by the positions: they: assume" in Fig. l. The end-hm 19- may thus be'liooked in back of the appropriate side-ear or log 12 on the boxlink 2, and by springing the two legs'ot the link 3 together, as shown at the right in Fig. at, the opposite lug 19 can; then he slid through the opening 22} in the link 2 ai1dsea1ted in 'backpfthe} opposite; endear 12; Figs, 2j=an1d 3 illustr'atethe relatigee position of the? links when? clasped together in the manner as above explained; it being noted that the bent-down hook 21 on the link 3 abuts the inner side of the end-lugs ll on the main link 2 to prevent the links from being pulled apart, while the engagement of the side-ears or lugs 12 with the notches 23 formed by the end-lugs 19holds the link 3 from telescoping within the link 2 with which it is clasped.

It will thus be seen that the several units, each consisting of an outer main link and its respective inner telescoping link, may be readily clasped together to form a continuous band, belt, bracelet or other article of the required length. When the article is to be used as a watch-bracelet suitable clasps are attached toits ends to adapt it to be fastened to the loops. on the watch. Sucha tyre of-clasp is described and illustrated in" my application for U. S. Letters Patent.

filed concurrently herewith, the clasp being a separate invention, but adapted for use with the present bracelet. The present device inay also'be used as a complete bracelet without the watch, or as a belt, and for any other purpose of utility or adornment. Wheni it is required to alter its length the links may be uncoupled by simply springing togotller the sides of one of the inner con necting elements 3 and releasing its hook or'latch. portion 21 from the end ot the respec-tire outer link 2 to which it is clasped, in a: lrninner the reverse of the clasping op-. oration. article may thus be removed to shorten its length, or, when: required, new units may be added to increase its length.

The outeror top sides of the links may be etched, engraved or enameled with orha mental designs, or set with brilliants to embellish the artistic effect of the whole. It will also be observed that the attractiveness of the article is enhanced by the fact that its par. are neatly and smoothly joined so that no unsightly scams. 01: joints appear when the band or bracelet is flexed, the. 1'- pered ends of the sides of the main links, before referred to, providing for a close relationv ofthe links when the band is'bent into a circle as illustrated in Fig. 1;; The parts- One or more 01". the units of the slide smoothly on each other when the bracelet is stretched or extended without revealing anyv conspicuous broken joints or gaps and the article is therefore particularly neat and finished in appearance under all conditions of use. The springs and other mechanical parts are entirely enclosed and hidden from view, besidesbeing protected from injgury or dislocation. Moreover, the mechanical con-- struction of the device; is extremely simple and: compact and adaptedfor economical cost of manufacture.

\Vhile L lrawe herein described and illustrated a preferred embodiment 05E. the invention': it to be understood that modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a flexible band or bracelet, the combination of outer tubular links having lugs projecting across their open ends at both the sides and bottom thereof, inner connecting links of bifurcated structure having portions adapted to be sprung into place to engage behind both the lateral and bottom lugs on the main links and with their main port-ions telescoping within the next adjacent outer links, and springs enclosed within the outer links to act on the inner links to maintain them telescoped to contract the bracelet.

' 2. In a. device of the type specified, the combination of a series of outer box-like links having lugs projecting across their open ends, a series of inner slide-links formed with fiat portions bent downwardly at their ends and provided with laterally projecting lugs, said flat portions being slitted longitudinally to adapt them to be contracted across their width to engage their lugs with those at the end of the box-links, and springs within the box-links acting on the slide-links to hold them in telescoped rolation therein.

3. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a series of tubular links having lugs projecting upwardly across the openings at their ends with additional lugs projecting inwardly from the sides of the link at their ends, and connecting-links of bifurcated structure having hooked portions at their ends adapted to hook over the top of the bottom lugs at the ends of the tubular links, said bifurcated links also provided with lugs projecting laterally from said hooked portions to adapt them tosnap into place behind the side-lugs of the tubular links when the sides of the connecting-link v are pinched together.

a. In a device of the type specified, the

combination of box-shaped links having a narrow slot extending part way across the end thereof, and connecting links slitted to provide a bifurcated structure having bent down books at the ends of its legs with lugs projecting laterally therefrom, the hooked portion of the connecting link being adapted for insertion through the slot in the box link when its legs are sprung together whereby the sidelugs engage at the ends of the slot to lock the links in clasped relation.

5. In a device of the type specified, the combination of box-shaped links folded from sheet-metal blanks with lugs bent upwardly part way across their open ends and additional lugs bent inwardly from the sides, and bifurcated connecting-links having bent down hooks at one end and side notches adjacent thereto, the legs of the connecting-links being adapted to be sprung together to insert their hooks into place behind the bottom lugs on the box-links with the side-lugs thereof engaging the notch-es to lock the links in clasped relation.

6. In a device of the type specified, the combination of box-shaped links folded from sheet-metal blanks with lugs bent upwardly from the bottom part way across their open ends and additional lugs bent inwardly from their sides at one endfbifurcated slide-links having bent down portions adapted to hook over the bottom lugs on the box-links with notches on their sides engaged by the side lugs thereof, said slide links formed with bent down wings at their sides slidable through the openings between the bottom lugs and the sides of the adjacent box-link and also formed with a bent down wing at the end, and springs arranged between the bottom lugs at one end of the box-links and the end wings of the slide links to normally maintain the links in telescoped relation.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALMYR L. NEWMAN. 

